The Resilience of Luxury: What the 2026 Trend Report Means for Today’s Real Estate Professionals

The luxury real estate market is often viewed as a bellwether for broader economic and housing trends. While the traditional housing market has faced affordability challenges, rising interest rates, and slower transaction velocity, luxury real estate continues to move differently — and in many ways, more strategically.

According to Coldwell Banker Global Luxury®’s 2026 Trend Report, the defining theme for the coming year is resilience. Despite geopolitical uncertainty, economic shifts, and changing consumer behaviors, luxury real estate has remained one of the most stable and capital-backed asset classes globally .

For real estate professionals, this isn’t just a headline — it’s a roadmap.

This year’s report reveals not only where affluent buyers are investing, but how they’re thinking. And perhaps more importantly, it highlights the evolving role of the real estate agent: no longer just a transaction facilitator, but a true strategic advisor.

Let’s break down the key themes and what they mean for agents navigating 2026 and beyond.

1. Real Estate Has Become a Wealth Strategy, Not a Speculative Bet

One of the most important shifts highlighted in the report is the way high-net-worth individuals now view property ownership. Luxury real estate is no longer treated as a short-term appreciation play. Instead, it sits alongside private equity, art, and other long-term holdings as a cornerstone of wealth preservation and identity .

Since 2020, affluent individuals with a net worth over $5 million have seen wealth grow more than 58%, with real estate investment growing at nearly the same pace. In the U.S., real estate remains deeply intertwined with personal wealth in a way that is not mirrored globally .

What this means for agents:

Your clients are thinking longer-term. They care less about market timing and more about strategic positioning — tax implications, lifestyle alignment, portfolio diversification, and legacy planning. Agents who can speak this language, and provide insight beyond price-per-square-foot, will stand out.

2. Luxury Moves Differently Than the Traditional Market

While existing home sales in the broader market grew just 1.7% in 2025, luxury home sales rose 2.9% — nearly double. Prices remained stable, with single-family luxury homes appreciating around 3% year-over-year and attached properties rising approximately 4% .

This is not a “boom cycle.” It’s a return to what the report describes as a more balanced, mature market — one driven by capital, not speculation.

Affluent buyers are largely insulated from interest rate volatility. Many are cash buyers, or using bespoke private financing. They are selective, discerning, and focused on long-term value rather than short-term gains .

What this means for agents:

Luxury clients are active — but they expect clarity, transparency, and expertise. The days of rushed decisions and emotional bidding wars are giving way to thoughtful, strategic buying and selling. Your role is increasingly about interpretation, not persuasion.

3. The Rise of Resilient Wealth Havens

Another major theme in the 2026 report is the emergence of new “wealth haven” markets. Historically, cities like New York, London, Miami, and Paris dominated the luxury conversation. While those markets remain strong, a new class of resilient destinations is gaining ground.

Cities such as Atlanta, San Diego, Nashville, Austin, Dubai, and Lisbon are now showing many of the same markers of long-term stability once reserved for legacy hubs .

These markets share common traits:

Strong local economies
Lifestyle and amenity appeal
Limited luxury inventory
Favorable tax and policy environments
In-migration of high-net-worth individuals

Luxury has become hyper-local. Performance now varies not just by city, but by neighborhood.

What this means for agents:

Micro-market expertise is becoming a competitive advantage. Agents who deeply understand their local market — not just comps, but migration trends, lifestyle drivers, and buyer psychology — will outperform those relying on national narratives.

4. The Great Wealth Transfer Is Just Beginning

Perhaps the most transformative force shaping the next decade is the largest intergenerational transfer of wealth in history.

Nearly $38 trillion in global wealth is expected to change hands over the next ten years, with Gen X and Millennials inheriting the largest share. Of the projected $4.6 trillion in real estate expected to trade worldwide, more than half will occur in the United States alone .

These next-generation buyers have different priorities:

Wellness and quality of life
Sustainability and climate resilience
Multigenerational living
Flexibility and global mobility

Luxury is no longer just about prestige. It’s about how people live.

What this means for agents:

The future luxury client is younger, more values-driven, and more intentional. They want advisors who understand not just properties, but purpose — lifestyle alignment, family structures, remote work, and legacy planning.

5. “Living Large” Is Back — But It Looks Different

After years of “quiet luxury” and minimalism, the pendulum has swung back toward larger, more expressive living.

Interest in detached homes rose 15% year-over-year. Five-plus bedroom homes accounted for nearly 64% of single-family luxury inquiries. Buyers are seeking privacy, outdoor living, wellness-focused interiors, home offices, and multigenerational suites .

At the same time, turnkey properties still dominate. Move-in-ready homes command significant premiums, while older or less updated properties are sitting longer and facing price adjustments.

What this means for agents:

Design literacy matters. So does understanding renovation strategy, cost-to-value, and how to position properties for today’s buyer mindset.

The Bigger Picture: Agents as Strategic Advisors

The most important takeaway from the 2026 Trend Report isn’t about prices, inventory, or migration.

It’s about you.

The report makes it clear: affluent buyers and sellers no longer need just transactional support. They need strategic advisors who can:

Interpret complex market conditions
Provide long-term perspective
Compare opportunities across regions
Align real estate decisions with personal and financial goals

This is a fundamental evolution of our industry.

The agents who will thrive in 2026 and beyond are not the loudest marketers or the biggest advertisers — they are the most trusted, the most informed, and the most strategic.

Final Thoughts: Why This Matters for Your Business

Luxury real estate is no longer about chasing volume. It’s about positioning, clarity, and leadership.

Whether you work with first-time buyers or ultra-high-net-worth clients, these trends will shape:

Client expectations
Market dynamics
Your role as a professional

Understanding where the market is going — and how affluent consumers are thinking — is one of the most powerful tools you can have as an agent.

And the truth is, the agents who lean into strategy, education, and long-term value creation will not only attract better clients — they’ll build more sustainable, fulfilling careers.

Want the Full Report?

You can access the full Global Luxury® 2026 Trend Report here:

👉CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL GLOBAL LUXURY 2026 TREND REPORT

And if you’d like to talk through what these trends mean for your market or your business, I’m always happy to connect.

Sometimes the most valuable conversations aren’t about switching brokerages — they’re about seeing the industry more clearly.